TRUMP ANNOUNCES 2026 WORLD CUP DRAW TO HOLD IN WASHINGTON, HANDLES TROPHY WITH FIFA CHIEF

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

US President Donald Trump on Friday announced that the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held in Washington, D.C., on December 5, shifting the event from its earlier planned venue in Las Vegas.

The 48-team tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is set to take place next year, with Trump highlighting its significance during his presidency.

At the Kennedy Center, Trump made the announcement alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who gave him a rare opportunity to hold the Jules Rimet trophy football’s most coveted prize.

“Only the FIFA president, presidents of countries, and winners can touch it, because it’s for winners only. And since you are a winner, of course you can as well touch it,” Infantino told Trump.

The 79-year-old president, wearing a red hat with the inscription “Trump Was Right About Everything,” briefly joked: “Can I keep it? That’s a beautiful piece of gold.”

At one point, Trump appeared to fumble the trophy before safely placing it on his desk, prompting Infantino to reach out in caution.

Infantino also presented Trump with a symbolic ticket Row 1, Seat 1 for the World Cup final on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The choice of Washington’s Kennedy Center for the draw has political undertones. Trump’s administration took control of the iconic performing arts venue earlier this year, criticizing it as “too woke.” On Friday, Trump hinted at renaming it:

“Some people refer to it as the Trump-Kennedy Center, but we’re not prepared to do that quite yet, maybe in a week or so.”

The US president also linked the tournament preparations with his administration’s federal crime crackdown in Washington, which included the deployment of National Guard troops. He assured that the city would be safe for visiting football fans.

Trump further suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin might attend the tournament, depending on progress in peace efforts over Ukraine.